Ghana has made a remarkable debut at the ICC International Commercial Mediation Competition, with the University of Ghana Law School proudly representing the country for the first time at the prestigious global event.
The team Lilyan Boamah, Senam King, Pomaa Oppong Bediako, and Edward Adeabah, under the guidance of lecturer Rachel Haizel, coach Emmanuella Naa Ashardey Ashely, and mentor Nahum Agyepong, competed in the 21st edition of the competition. They earned the distinguished Award of Achievement: Distinction for Acknowledgement of Cultural Differences.
Organised annually by the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), the competition is the institution’s largest educational event. Held at ICC Headquarters in Paris, the 2026 edition brought together 120 professionals from 36 countries and 58 universities across 34 countries. Over the course of the event, participants engaged in 200 mock mediations, earning the competition its reputation as the “Olympics of Mediation.”
The University of Auckland emerged as the 2026 champions. Other participating institutions included Bucerius Law School, University of Warsaw, University of Georgia, University of Southampton, Yale University, University of São Paulo, and the National Law School of India University, among others.
Upon their return, the Ghanaian team presented their award to International Chamber of Commerce Ghana Chairman Sam Jonah and Secretary-General Emmanuel Doni-Kwame.
Sir Sam Jonah congratulated the team on their outstanding achievement and encouraged them to treat not winning the overall title as a valuable learning experience. He also expressed concern over the declining number of male law students and called for improved gender balance within legal education.
Secretary-General Doni-Kwame announced that ICC Ghana would collaborate with the University of Ghana to establish a national mediation competition aimed at identifying and preparing top candidates for future international participation.
The ICC Mediation Competition seeks to promote the effective use of mediation and foster the exchange of ideas, experience, and expertise among students and professionals from diverse countries, cultures, and backgrounds. Respect for cultural diversity remains a central value of the programme.
With over a century of experience, the ICC develops rules that facilitate international business and resolve commercial disputes. Its dispute resolution framework includes the ICC Rules of Arbitration, ICC Mediation Rules, ICC Expert Rules, and ICC Dispute Board Rules. The ICC International Court of Arbitration is widely regarded as the world’s leading arbitral institution.
